Improvement in removable bayonet-guards



UNITED STATES a ATENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. ERNST, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN REMOVABLE BAYONET-GUARDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,081, datedAugust 5, 1862.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my` invention. the guard.

Similar letters of reference in both views indicate crresponding parts.

The object of thisinvention is to arrange a Fig.- 2 is a horizontal section of guard for bayonets, so that they can easily be attached to the point of the bayonet when it is desired to use the same for practice or exercise, and that it can be removed easily and quickly.

The invention consists in the employment or use of a removable guard for bayonets in such a manner that anordinary bayonet can be used with or without the guard, as may be desired.

It consists, further, in the application tothe movable guard of a spring strap or elastic cord, in combination with an adjustable safetystrap in such a manner that said guard, when applied to the point of the bayonet, is firmly and surely retained and prevented from being displaced in practice or exercise.

It consists, iinally, in the arrangement of a metallic socket with suitable slotted ilanges to receive the straps, in combination with and firmly united to an elastic ball in such a manner that said ball can easily and firmly be lashed to the point of the bayonet.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation' with reference to-the drawings.

The bayonet A is of the ordinary shape and construction, being made with three hollow sides and with a sharp three-edged point; or it may be made Hat-pointed or in any other desirable manner. To the point of this bayonet the guard B is attached, so that it can easily be removed whenever it is desired, and that the same, when attached, is not liable to be displaced by accident. Said guard consists of a soft elastic ball, a, of india-rubber or any other suitable material, rmly fastened to a socket, Z, which may be of cast-ironor any other suitable hard, impenetrable material. This socket is provided with a slotted ange, O, on the outside, to receive the ends of the strap O, and with ears d on the inside, which serve to secure the ball to the socket. The strap C, the outer end of which is split so that the same can be secured to the flange c in two slots-one opposite the other-extends down to a buckle, e, which is secured to the outer end of the strap D, and one portion of this strap is secured to the spiral spring f, whereas its other portion, which forms the safety-strap E, extends clear down to a button, y, on the inner or lower endof Vthe strap D. This end is attached to an oval ring, h, which is so formed that 'it slips easily over the blade of the bayonet and retains the guard by catching under the shoulder or corner at the inner end of the blade, as clearly shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

The guard is lashed to the bayonet in the following manner: Slip the oval ring over the point down to the neck of the bayonet.,

Then pull away at the ball to admit the point of thebayonet into the socket b, and the spring f will retain the ball in its place. For additional security fasten the strap E below on the button g. When thus secured, the guard cannot possibly get off by accident, and the bayonet can be used for exercise or practice.

The spring f facilitates the putting on and taking off of the guard, and by means of the buckle c above the spring the guard can be accommodated to bayonets of different lengths.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l, The. employment o'r use of a removable guard, B, for bayonets, substantially in the manner and for the purpose shown and described.

2. The arrangement ofthe adjustable elas` tic strap or cord-.C D and safety-strap E, in combination with the guard B, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

3.. The arrangement of the metallic socket b and slotted fiange c, in combination with the elastic ball a, strap O D, and bayonet A, all constructed and applied substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

- JOHN G. ERNST. Witnesses:

MARTIN H. WEISER, 1 GEORGE M. SHETTER. 

